Shade gardens have become more popular as flower gardens have grown in popularity. Many homeowners are discovering that they can create a unique outdoor space that adds interest to their yard without using an expensive backyard landscaping designer. Designing a shade garden is a very easy task and can be done on your own or with the help of a landscaping company. Most importantly, you will save money because landscaping with flowers will actually save you money. In most cases you can choose to plant low-growing plants or high maintenance plants that can help offset any cost that you may incur from the creation of the garden.
The first step is to visit your local garden center. They should be able to point you in the right direction for good shade plants. Be sure to ask about the types of flowers that will be available in the area. For example, if you live in a cold climate where winter is coming then you want to choose something that will keep your flowers and plants warm.
If you live in a warmer climate then you may want to avoid the use of shade flowers and plants. This is especially true if you have young children or pets. Another thing to consider is the location. You must take into account any landscaping features that surround your home so that you will be able to design a good shade garden.
One of the best kinds of good shade plants is clematis. There are several different varieties available including Snowdrops, Showy Clematis, and Shasta Daisy. All are great choices as they grow to about three inches. Although some of these varieties like the Showy Clematis are quite tall so plan on placing them at least four feet apart. This will give them enough of a gap in which to spread out and grow at their leisure.
Other good choices for your shade garden are clematis, creeping phlox, Dutchman’s claw, hollyhock, and true phlox. All of these provide your landscape with lush foliage under a shady canopy. The true phlox has two blooms while the others just bloom once. Each has a light blue foliage and blooms in late summer through early fall.
Shady areas could use some evergreen plants. These include azaleas, cherries, hydrangeas, lilies, maple trees, sweet pea, and more. These can be used in the place of shrubs or in the ground. In some cases you may want to use shrubs or trees in the ground but evergreens are an excellent choice. Evergreens are a part of nature’s gift to us. Many people choose evergreen plants because they are easy to maintain, they do not need much attention, and they provide a spectacular palette of colors year-round.
Clematis is a popular choice for shade gardens as it is a hardy deciduous tree. The branches of clematis grow long and straight so they provide privacy and shelter from winds. Other popular shrubs for this type of garden are blue-flowered chrysanthemums, clematis, dwarf doum palm, and southern magnolia.
Shady areas also often call for scrub patches, small flower beds, and other types of low maintenance plants. This is why there are so many deciduous varieties of shrubs, such as the crabapple tree, which are perfect for shade gardening. They are also perfect for hanging baskets. Some varieties of this tree will even grow up to twelve feet. Popular scrub varieties are clematis, crabapple, aloes, honeysuckle, lily, nasturtium, rue, sweet white, and scabies.
Most shade tolerant plants will thrive in full sunlight and will tolerate partial shade. There are some exceptions to this rule such as coneflower, which will not thrive well in the shadows. Most perennial flowers will do well in most kinds of soil conditions, although you do want to keep in mind that some shade loving plants will not flower until they get a little bit of shade. Flowering time for most flowers is late spring through early fall.
Some perennials will flower for the whole year if given the proper condition. One of the best choices for shade loving plants is the plant called the sunflower. These plants are evergreens, which means that they will flourish year-round in most shaded areas. They do not grow very tall, but they do have very large leaves that spread out in full sun.
Shrubs can be planted almost anywhere in your garden as long as they get enough sunlight. The more clay you have in your soil the better shade your plants will thrive. You can try a variety of types of dwarf irises or sunflowers for an interesting look. Sunflowers can thrive both in and out of shade. Sunflowers can be planted right up against your house or in a shaded area behind it.